In The Chosen, Reuven and his community have to consider two very important things during the time they live: how they can stay loyal to their country, and how they can stay loyal to their religion. Living in the United States during World War 2, Reuven’s community was desperate to prove their loyalty to America; to prove that although they were Jewish, they were just as American as anyone else. One way they did this was through baseball. At the time, baseball was one of the most popular sports in America, and proving your skill as a baseball player, and as an athlete in general, would show that you bought into American values, proving that you were truly American. Reuven explains that, “America’s entry into the Second World War” led “English teachers in the Jewish parochial schools [to use baseball] to show the gentile world that yeshiva students were as physically fit…as any other American student” (5). While Reuven and his community were focused on proving their Americanism to the entire country, they were also having to prove their loyalty to the smaller community where they lived. When Reuven and his team didn’t practice the Jewish religion in a certain way, other more zealous Jewish groups would accuse them of not being Jewish enough. What bothered Reuven the most about this was the more extreme groups’ “fanatic sense of righteousness, their absolute certainty that they and they alone had God’s ear, and every other Jew was wrong, totally wrong, a sinner, a hypocrite, an apikoros, and doomed, therefore, to burn in hell” (24).
As with every book, there will be flaws with the writer’s argument. In the time period this book was written on, the ideology of the Jim Crowe Laws were prevalent throughout the country. However, Rogosin doesn’t go into enough depth for it to be an effective argument that resonates with the reader. Rogosin does a phenomenal job describing baseball and America’s stance on African
Spalding’s World Baseball Tour laid the roots of the new empire and exemplified the United States onto the world stage. It highlighted our country’s economic growth, the search for overseas markets, improvements in communication and transportation, and the rising cultural interactions. Thomas Zeiler’s main emphasis is on the baseball players and their entourage as “tourists” who helped disperse American culture abroad and brought global influences back to their homelands. Thomas Zeiler concluded that because of the immense impact of the World Tour, it was the process of globalization of baseball that laid the structure of the growing American identity. Baseball was used to sell and export the American way. The game associated itself with the values of the American dream. In America’s foreign diplomacy, baseball was used to promote patriotism and nationalism.
Rhoden wrote, “Integration in sports—as opposed to integration at the ballot box or in public conveyances—was a winning proposition for the whites who controlled the sports industrial complex.” Arthur Foster
¨Los Angeles Dodgers ace Sandy Koufax chose not to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series against the Minnesota Twins because it fell on Yom Kippur, the Jewish holiday of atonement¨ (Caple). Consequently on the morning of Yom Kippur, Elliot Storm, a Jewish boy in New York, planned to skip services that morning to watch the World Series Sandy was going to pitch in (Caple). Due to the fact Sandy Koufax was Jewish, he opted out of being the starting pitcher in the World Series, all because he wanted to observe the holiday. The choice Koufax made told Jews all over the world, as well as other religious and spiritual groups that if you stayed true to your beliefs that you could and should be more important than making money or bring the most popular guy on television ( Halberstam). He gave a sense of inspiration and encouragement to others by making a statement saying that your beliefs matter and don’t let anything get in the way of that (Kuttler). Koufax was quickly becoming famous for much more than just his talents on the field. Being able to tell yourself to step out of one of the biggest milestones in a baseball player's career, was able to make Sandy look humble and respectful for all to
Like the bald eagle, baseball has become an icon for the term “American”. It was the nation’s first major sport and quickly was coined America’s pastime. It was created from a combination of other games during the 1840’s and became increasingly popular during the years of the Civil War (Brinkley 392). In their
Sports in a society bring people together and help aid in people making friendships or gaining respect for each other. Baseball isn’t a traditional game that minorities play in and possibly one of the most well-known sports for segregation with the Negro League being formed for African Americans before they integrated. Whites were perceived as the better baseball players so African American and minority baseball players weren’t allowed to play with them (Jiobu, 1988). African American baseball players weren’t worse baseball players and actually had better stats and success in the Negro League. Some even believed they were worse players because they were told so by the white people who were seen as the smarter race even though the numbers said
When the topic of baseball comes up in a conversation, what do you think of? The field, a bat, the ball, or amazing plays, crucial games, and game winning performances. What about American history? Does World War II come to mind; most likely not. According to an article called “Food for Thought: Baseball and American History,” John P. Rossi quotes Jacques Barzun saying, “Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.” Negro League Baseball can be used to shed light on the historical experience of African American’s in the United States.
In the biography Jackie Robinson and the American Dilemma by John R. M. Wilson, it tells the story of racial injustice done after world war II and explains how Jackie Robinson was pioneer of better race relations in the United States. The obstacles Jackie Robinson overcame were amazing, he had the responsibility to convert the institutions, customs, and attitudes that had defined race relations in the United States. Seldom has history ever placed so much of a strain on one person. I am addressing the importance of Jackie Robinson’s trials and triumphs to American racial dynamics in the post war period to show how Robinson was a prominent figure in the civil rights movement and brought baseball fans together regardless of race.
Baseball, for Weber, gives the 19th century working class an opportunity to assimilate outside of their working affiliations, or Marxian-like class associations. Weber would have analyzed baseball by simultaneously reaffirming community interactions and involvement, which provided opportunity for exclusion and inclusion. Weber asserts that conflict is the most important element in society. The conflict
In 1839 Americas soon to be favorite past time was invented right here in New York, Baseball. Baseball whether you like the game or not, has weaved itself deeply into our culture and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. There are countless movies, articles, songs, playing cards, bobble heads, merchandise and books all made about baseball. The players are often idolized by children and adults alike. Baseball in our country was and still is a huge topic of discussion, whose batting average is higher, which team is better, is someone cheating. Troy Maxson like many American’s knows a lot about baseball like how striking out is bad and homeruns are how you win but there are things about baseball that Troy doesn’t know. The article, Walking Around the Fences: Troy Maxson and the Ideology of “Going Down Swinging”, written by David Letzler. Letzler Delves into the ideology of batting and walks in baseball in explanation of the main character Troy Maxson of August Willison’s play Fences, and his thought process of going down swinging and Troy’s thoughts on some of the major league players of that time.
Baseball might not be war, but it required tough men to play it.” It appeared that there were multiple goals that sporting magazines had in mind. One primary goal was to pledge baseball’s support to the Union in the fight against the rebels, and this would be instrumental in baseball becoming America’s National Pastime. The patriotism of baseball players marching off to the defense of the Union set a proud tone for the sport. Another goal of the sporting papers was to maintain baseball’s relevance to daily life and ensure its survival through the conflict. In remaining a constant presence in the background of the spectator’s life, the sport kept a valuable foothold within the American life. The uniqueness of baseball’s position in the media also granted a defusing role. Sporting magazines continued to report on sports, which provided a relief from the growing list of casualties constantly being reported by other news
The sport of baseball has been a staple in American culture since the 1800s and has been deemed America’s past time for many years. The addition of African Americans into Major League Baseball has made it a richer game. The United States of America is known as a huge melting pot as many immigrants and refugees would come to America as a new home and beginning. Baseball was a game that brought happiness to all Americans, despite their color, ethnicity or background. Major League Baseball began in about 1867 and prior to the 19th century, we all know that the United States of America was built on slavery. Even after the slaves were emancipated racial tensions still ran high. The 13th amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery
World War II was one of the most tragic, depressing wars in history. There was poverty, rationing of food and clothing, hunger, and death. The middle class had a hard time functioning regularly and some families had to say goodbye to their fathers, brothers, cousins, uncles, or sons. World War II put a large hole in our nation, but our national pastime had no trouble filling the gap. Baseball gained a lot of popularity during the roarin’ twenties, which grew throughout the thirties and held its strength in people’s hearts through the early forties. Attendance nationwide spiked during the United States’ involvement in World War II(1941-1945). Whether that was due to a nation looking for a bone to chew while their family was at war, the uprise
Of the two key concepts underlying the emergence of the American nation, one has prevailed since historical times, the patriotism and national identity ideals, and the other has to some extent, disappeared since historical times, the extreme discrimination and social intolerability. The use of baseball to establish a national spirit and identity in the form of patriotism still exists in the contemporary sport of
Various aspects of life represent America in different ways. These aspects shape the history of America, at the same time, the history and values America has shaped them. When one talks about baseball, one thing that comes clearly into one’s mind is America. Why? America is the origin of baseball; it puts in more effort to ensure the game advances. Since the development of baseball, other countries across the globe identify and value America based on baseball in different ways. The script utilizes photos to disclose some ways through which baseball characterizes and values America.